Birth of the Victoria International 7s rugby tournament

International sevens star Sean Duke will play for Team Canada at Saturday's Victoria International 7s tournament. The first ever tournament will be hosted at the University of Victoria's Wallace Field.

On Saturday, Victoria has a chance to see rugby sevens at an world-class level for the first time on local pitches

The first ever Victoria International 7s rugby tournament is Saturday at the University of Victoria’s Wallace Field.

The tourney is set to become an annual affair and festival weekend.

Visiting for the first ever international event are the Mexican and Cayman Islands’ national teams as well as a Fijian team called Ratu Filise.

UVic Vikes rugby coach and former national sevens manager Doug Tate is an organizer of the event and said not to underestimate the visiting countries. But Mexico and the Cayman Islands will have their hands full with the Canadian national team, the Fijian squad and Team Molly Maid.

Molly Maid: Originally organized by Jim Mackenzie, the chairman and CEO of Molly Maid Canada and father of ex-Vikes and professional players Phil and Jamie. However, the brothers were both named to the 30-man Rugby Canada squad and are training full time with the team.

Instead, the Molly Maid team could sweep the title with a core of national-level James Bay players. Watch out for: Neil Meechan, Morgan and Jeff Williams, and Taylor Paris. All have played for Canada on the international level.

Canada: This team is devilishly good, even without some of its regular stars.

Watch out for: Phil Mack. He narrowly missed the 30-man world cup squad and has captained Team Canada to bucketfuls of trophies on the international stage.

Watch out for: St. Michaels University School grads Andrew Crowe and Beau Parker.

A rare chance to see Crowe, who plays university rugby back east.

Also a rare chance to see Parker on the open field. Watch him run.

Young Canada: Canada’s future boasts a tonne of talent but less experience.

Watch out for: Michael Fuailefau, a SMUS grad and Castaway-Wanderers youth player who is now a Vike.